Now seventeen editions deep, the RORC Caribbean 600 continues to reinvent itself while staying true to its core identity. The course weaving through eleven Caribbean islands remains unchanged, but the shifting trade winds craft a unique narrative every year, complemented by the deep expertise of an international roster of accomplished sailors.
This year, the trade winds tracked further to the south-east than in many recent editions. A race often recalled as a high-speed reaching affair transformed into a far more technical challenge featuring extended upwind legs, narrower reaching angles, and frequent transitions through compression zones and wind shadows. The spectacle remained breathtaking, but success across this 600-nautical-mile offshore classic hinged on course geometry and flawless execution.
The overall IRC victory and the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy went to Leopard 3, marking her second overall triumph in the event. The weather pattern played to Leopard’s strengths, but modifications to the yacht and, above all, meticulous teamwork completed the winning formula.
RORC Caribbean 600 Prizegiving, Antigua 2026
“It’s a surprise to win it,” admitted Leopard’s Joost Schuijff. “Black Jack was very strong, congratulations to them for line honours. There are other boats on IRC rating that would easily match us. So yes, it’s a surprise but I think it was due to our performance and lack of problems. It was the best ‘600 that we ever sailed here in Antigua.” Laura de Vere, competing in her third edition, echoed the sentiment. “It was super exciting. We are thrilled, over the moon.”
His Excellency, Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, presented the Overall Winner’s Trophy to Leopard 3 during the prizegiving ceremony.
The battle between the two 100-footers, Black Jack 100 and Leopard 3, played out as a textbook maxi match race. Remon Vos’ RP100 Black Jack 100, skippered by Tristan Le Brun, claimed Monohull Line Honours in 1 Day 20 Hours 31 Minutes 36 Seconds, though the lead swung back and forth throughout the race. The south-easterly breeze amplified each boat’s distinct character. Leopard 3 dominated the upwind work in 15 to 20 knots, pointing high and absorbing the Caribbean swell with confidence. Black Jack 100 flourished when the angles opened up, converting sail power into decisive gains on the longer reaching stretches.
RORC Caribbean 600 Prizegiving, Antigua 2026
For Black Jack’s Vos, the head-to-head duel carried significance beyond any silverware. “It’s fantastic when you’re head to head with similar boats. Who wins? You don’t know. That’s important.” He spoke not about supremacy but about collective progress within the Black Jack programme. “It’s all about people,” Vos reflected. “Young sailors, experienced sailors, different backgrounds. Passion and talent together — that’s what makes it work.”
The MOD70 fleet delivered one of the tightest finishes in race history. Jason Carroll’s MOD 70 Argo from the United States completed the course in 1 Day 12 Hours 01 Minute 46 Seconds, edging out Final Final – Zoulou, helmed by fellow American Jon Desmond, by just over three minutes after more than 36 hours of racing, often at speeds exceeding 30 knots.
RORC Caribbean 600 Prizegiving, Antigua 2026
The south-easterly trades reshaped critical legs, particularly behind Nevis, converting what is typically a stable reach into a gybe-heavy downwind run. Around Guadeloupe, compression zones demanded constant recalculation. The race reached its climax on the decisive beat from Redonda, where Argo executed a perfectly timed double-tack to establish the separation that proved conclusive.
“It’s a beautiful race,” Carroll enthused. “You’re on your toes the whole time. Every few hours you’re rounding an island or making a decision. Guaranteed breeze, great competition.” He also had warm words for the organizers. “RORC has a long track record of running incredible events. When you make a big investment bringing a boat and crew to a race, you want to know it will be well run. RORC never disappoints.”
In IRC Zero, the Mach 50 Palanad 4 – E.Leclerc from France, skippered by Antoine Magre, claimed class victory. James Neville’s Carkeek 45 Ino Noir from Great Britain made a bold yet calculated gamble on the final leg to finish second on corrected time by the slimmest of margins. Niklas Zennstrom’s Carkeek 52 Rán from Sweden rounded out the podium.
With approximately 60 percent of the race sailed upwind or on tight reaching angles, IRC Zero became a sustained VMG contest. Frederic Puzin’s Carkeek 54 Daguet 5 from France led on corrected time during the early stages, as did Rán. But Palanad’s steady accumulation through the tighter sections built the platform for victory. The scow-bow 50-foot design is turning heads worldwide, blasting past formidable rivals like Rán on a reach. Throughout the race, Palanad consistently outpaced the competition and held just enough advantage on the beat to the finish to fend off Ino Noir’s late surge.
“I think one word to describe this race is intensity,” said Palanad’s Antoine Magre. “We never really settled into a watch system because it was constant manoeuvres, constant sail changes and always dealing with land effects and wind shadows. We weren’t off to the best start, but after that we didn’t make many mistakes. We sailed hard and stayed on point most of the time. The final beat from Redonda was definitely stressful, especially with the competition behind us. Securing this class win in such a competitive field is a major achievement for us.”
IRC One saw Bruce Chafee’s RP42 Rikki from the United States seal class victory by the narrowest of margins. Xavier Bellouard’s Lift 45 Maxitude from France claimed class line honours but corrected out to second place, falling just 9 minutes 32 seconds short after 600 grueling miles. Third went to Woody Cullen’s Swan 58 WaveWalker from the United States.
For Chafee, one word encapsulates the Rikki programme. “Team. It is the number one word for Rikki. My primary job is to bring the team, bring the boat, bring the resources. To give them the tools they need to perform together and create the culture for them to perform together.” The outcome is a crew that thrives under pressure. “We are dinghy sailors at heart, and we love pushing the boat as a real sailor does. I couldn’t be happier or prouder that the team pulled it together.”
IRC Two, the largest class in the 2026 fleet, turned into a war of attrition and consistent execution. Richard Dilley’s Grand Soleil 46 Belladonna from Great Britain captured the class win. Ray Rhinelander’s J/133 Bella J from Canada, skippered by Sarah Nicholson, pushed hard throughout to claim second. Third place after corrected time went to Cox and Dunlop’s J/122 Mojito from Great Britain.
For Belladonna owner Richard Dilley, the IRC Two victory transcended a simple result. It represented the fulfillment of a long-cherished ambition. “For me, it’s kind of a lifetime achievement really, to come out here and race in these amazing waters,” Dilley said, emotion close to the surface. “I can’t put into words how amazing it is. I’ve always wanted to come out here and race.”
The eleven-strong multihull fleet raced under the MOCRA Rule, where victory went to the Ocean 50 Calamity, skippered by Timo Tavio. Second under MOCRA was Marcus Sirota’s Sophia, skippered by Adam Davis, with Argo completing the podium.
Calamity’s campaign began with adversity after retiring from the RORC Transatlantic Race with a broken boom. Round-the-world sailor Ryan Breymaier and a build team sleeved the damaged carbon spar, restoring the boat in time for the Caribbean 600.
“When we broke the boom in the RORC Transatlantic, people thought the ‘600 was over for us,” recalled Tavio. “We said no, we’ll fix it. Then we got hit on the start line and were bailing water and plugging damage before we’d even settled into race mode.”
“We set ourselves one rule: don’t make mistakes,” added Breymaier. “If you get around this course without doing anything stupid, you’ll do well. We kept the boat moving, got through the wind holes, and never really stopped.”
The Class40 division produced one of the most powerful moments of the entire race. Robin Follin’s Solano from France won the class ahead of Matéo Le Calvic and Pierre Boulbin’s FPFP-TP from France, with Mike Hennessy’s Scowling Dragon from the United States in third. Yet the defining chapter for Solano unfolded in the dead of night during a massive squall.
The TS42 catamaran Cata Sensation, racing in the MOCRA Class, capsized on 25 February. Struck by a gust exceeding 30 knots, the catamaran with six crew aboard went over in seconds. Solano was nearby, roughly 16 nautical miles west of St John’s Harbour, and three competitors — MG5 Wellness Training, VO70 Cockatoo, and Solano — diverted immediately. Within 25 minutes, all six sailors had been safely pulled from the water by Solano’s crew. With everyone secured on board, Solano resumed racing and went on to win the Class40 division.
“When the capsize happened, there was no reflection. We stopped immediately. That’s normal, it is the spirit of sailors. If it was us in the water, we would want someone to do the same,” said Follin. “Once everyone was safe, we said, let’s finish properly. To win after that — it means something more.”
Competition at the RORC Caribbean 600 is fierce, but responsibility at sea is absolute. In responding the way they did, the Class40 fleet reminded everyone of an enduring truth: safety at sea is non-negotiable in any RORC race.
The prizegiving ceremony took place on the lawn at the Antigua Yacht Club, bringing together competitors, supporters, and distinguished guests to celebrate the 17th edition. Following the Sevenstar Welcome Party earlier in the week, the awards ceremony was honored by the presence of His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda. Also in attendance were The Honourable E.P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, and Mr Sean Cenac, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism.
Representing key event partners were Ed Matthirun, Business Development Manager for Sales and Marketing at Antigua Distillery, and Shounya Shepard, Carib Brand Manager. RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton served as Master of Ceremonies and welcomed guests before inviting RORC Commodore Deb Fish to the stage to present trophies and honor the 2026 winners.
The 17th RORC Caribbean 600 will not be defined by record-breaking extremes. It will be remembered for precision. A south-easterly trade wind pattern reshaped the course and rewarded those who adapted best. Titans secured line honours. Trailblazers carved milestones across every class. Seamanship was tested and proven, most powerfully in the waters off Antigua during a nighttime rescue.
The 18th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 is scheduled to start from Fort Charlotte, Antigua, on Monday 22 February 2027, preceded by the inshore RORC Nelson’s Cup Series.
